Swollen Belly (no other symptoms?)

[BeardedAaliyah]

I looked through some older posts concerning a swollen belly, but none were what I was looking for. :shock:

Aaliyah is eating fine and active (she likes to pace her cage).
She poops a lot, regularly (once a day on average). Poop seems normal.
She's 4 months old.
When I pick her up, she's not swollen, she 'flattens' herself like a pancake at first, so I'm doubting it's a parasite. I've felt her tummy, and it seems to be normal. She's on tile, so impaction is impossible.
Her temp. is 95-105 (it varies depending on room temp.), and she has a new Reptisun 10.0 bulb, as well as an additional black bulb to keep the temps in the preferred cool side range.

I would assume she's merely 'puffin' to seem bigger, but it's ALL the time. She can't be that determined, can she? :roll:
I used to soak her every few days, but she hates it and as a result, hates being picked up. Since then, I've stopped, hand feed her veggies, and she doesn't freak out when being picked up.

Could it be dehydration? She eats veggies once a day (typically), but not too much (she's only 4 mo.). I feed her till she doesn't want any more. She never drinks from her water bowl (literally, never, I'm in my room all day).

This morning she ate 50 reptiworms. 8) If that helps?
Thanks so much in advance.

 

[mistygirl]

She needs to be soaked so she can absorb water. She is only 4 months so really too early for egg binding. Try petting the top of her head when she is in the water. That usually calms my girl. Is the water warm enough and only up to about her shoulders? Bath time is good bonding time for you and her. She even likes when I stroke her gently where she has her beard. She doesn't beard up at all just kind of closes her eyes and relaxes. Keep trying. When I first got my girl (rescue) she wasn't bathed regularly and used to get agitated, but now she loves her bath because it helps her with her shed, pooping, staying hydrated and I think now she realizes she feels better after. It has become part of our routine.

 

[BeardedAaliyah]

She needs to be soaked so she can absorb water. She is only 4 months so really too early for egg binding. Try petting the top of her head when she is in the water. That usually calms my girl. Is the water warm enough and only up to about her shoulders? Bath time is good bonding time for you and her. She even likes when I stroke her gently where she has her beard. She doesn't beard up at all just kind of closes her eyes and relaxes. Keep trying. When I first got my girl (rescue) she wasn't bathed regularly and used to get agitated, but now she loves her bath because it helps her with her shed, pooping, staying hydrated and I think now she realizes she feels better after. It has become part of our routine.

As for the egg binding thing, we have yet to even determine if she is female or not! We'll know for sure in another 2 months or so. I'll keep trying with the soaking. I usually soak her when she's in shed, but I'll start soaking her regularly again. The water is always proper temp. It's warmer than my body temp., but not hot. I also make sure it's not too deep.

Did your girl used to puff up and try to run out of the sink?

 

[TASTIGER]

Did your girl used to puff up and try to run out of the sink?

I have yet to find a little one that actually LIKES getting a bath but dont worry she will get used to it. Mine hated it when he was little but now he swims around like a fish and trys to jump back in when i take him out

 

[BeardedAaliyah]

Did your girl used to puff up and try to run out of the sink?

I have yet to find a little one that actually LIKES getting a bath but dont worry she will get used to it. Mine hated it when he was little but now he swims around like a fish and trys to jump back in when i take him out

Looking forward to it! Thanks!

 

[mistygirl]

I use an actual bath, it is a kind of low dishpan type thing, but not as deep as a typical dishpan. She did try to get out at first. I just thought it was because she wasn't bathed hardly at all by her previous owner. How she even survived her previous owner is still a source of amazement to me. I was just persistent and talked to her in comforting tones and stroked her head and under her chin. She now does enjoy her bath. I don't really know how she was when she was really small as she was full grown when I got her. She is about 5 now and she loves her bath and then being snuggly in her towel when I take her out. Good Luck. Hope she starts liking it more soon. Just be as consistent as possible with it and perhaps she will enjoy the bathtime part of her routine.